Roll feeding and cutting apparatus for use in a photocopy machine

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS IS DISCLOSED FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING RELATIVELY WIDE COPY MATERIAL FROM A ROLL IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENT FED INTO A VARIABLE SPEED CONTACT TYPE COPYING MACHINE. A FIRST SENSING ELEMENT POSITIONED ALONG AN ORIGINAL FEED PATH INITIATE THE FEEDING OF COPY MATERIAL FROM A SELECTED ROLL UPON DETECTING THE LEADING EDGE OF THE ORIGINAL. THE COPY MATERIAL IS FED ALONG A COPY PATH CONVERGING AT AN INFEED STATION WITH THE ORIGINAL FEED PATH, THROUGH A CUTTING STATION AND A PAIR OF NIP ROLLERS TO A SECOND SENSING MEANS. DETECTION OF THE LEADING EDGE OF THE COPY MATERIAL BY THE SECOND SENSING MEANS STOPS THE NIP ROLLERS AND THEREFORE THE MOVEMENT OF THE LEADING END OF THE MATERIAL WHILE MATERIAL CONTINUES TO BE DISPENSED FROM THE ROLL. IN RESPONSE TO THE LATTER, LOOP FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING A CLUTCH DRIVEN CRANK ARM ARRANGEMENT MOVES A LOOP FORMING ROD INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COPY MATERIAL BETWEEN THE CUTTING STATION AND THE NIP ROLLERS. A THIRD SENSING ELEMENT ALONG THE ORIGINAL FEED PATH DOWNSTREAM OF THE FIRST SENSING ELEMENT, DETECTS THE LEADING EDGE OF THE ORIGINAL AND STARTS THE NIP ROLLERS TO MOVE THE LEADING END OF THE COPY MATERIAL IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE ORIGINAL. UPON THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE ORIGINAL CLEARING THE FIRST SENSING ELEMENT, THE DISPENSING OF COPY MATERIAL FROM THE ROLL IS STOPPED AND THE CRANK ARM ARRANGEMENT, WHICH CONTROLS A CUTTING DEVICE AT THE CUTTING STATION AS WELL AS THE LOOP FORMING APPARATUS, OPERATES THE CUTTING DEVICE TO SEVER A LENGTH OF COPY MATERIAL CORRESPONDING TO THE LENGTH OF THE ORIGINAL, FROM THE ROLL, AND THE LOOP FROMING APPARATUS TO DISENGAGE THE LOOP FORMING ROD FROM THE MATERIAL. A FOURTH SENSING ELEMENT, LATERALLY SPACED FROM THE FIRST MENTIONED SENSING ELEMENT ALONG THE ORIGINAL FEED PATH, INITIALLY SELECTS AN ALTERNATE COPY MATERIAL ROLL IN THE EVENT THE WIDTH OF THEW ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IS GREATER THAN A PREDETERMINED WIDTH. THE FEEDING AND CUTTING APPARATUS IS ALSO EQUIPPED TO SEVER A SHORT LENGTH OF COPY MATERIAL FROM THE ROLL WHEN NO ORIGINAL IS FED ALONG THE ORIGINAL FEED PATH, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRIMMING THE LEADING END OF A FRESH ROLL OF COPY MATERIAL. A MANUAL CUT MECHANISM IS ALSO PROVIDED FOR SEVERING COPY MATERIAL FROM A SELECTED ROLL WHEN DESIRED DURING THE OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS.

June 27, 1972 R. (5. LEE

ROLL FEEDING AND CUTTING APPARATUS FOR USE IN A PHOTOCOPY MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l aid he Filed June 8, 1970 mmm lg mm mh R. G. LEE ROLL FEEDING AND CUTTING APPARATUS FOR June 27, 1972 USE IN A PHOTOCOPY MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fnecl June 8, 1970 J'wmz pf 5&9

3 Q/Zifi hiiby 79ml! Qli June 27, 1972 R. G. LEE

ROLL FEEDING AND CUTTING APPARATUS FOR USE IN A PHOTOCOPY MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 8, 1970 June 27, 1972 R. 6. LEE 3,672,770

ROLL FEEDING AND CUTTING APPARATUS FOR USE IN A PHOTOCOPY MACHINE Filed June 8, 1970 Sheets-Sheet 4 w M {3 I Lia'- -20J 200 08400 90002007 United States Patent 01 ice- 3,672,770 Patented June 27, 1972 US. Cl. 355-97 27 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus is disclosed for feeding and cutting relatively wide copy material from a roll in accordance with an original document fed into a variable speed contact type copying machine. A first sensing element positioned along an original feed path initiates the feeding of copy material from a selected roll upon detecting the leading edge of the original. The copy material is fed along a copy path converging at an infeed station with the original feed path, through a cutting station and a pair of nip rollers to a second sensing means. Detection of the leading edge of the copy material by the second sensing means stops the nip rollers and therefore the movement of the leading end of the material while material continues to be dispensed from the roll. In response to the latter, loop forming apparatus comprising a clutch driven crank arm arrangement moves a loop forming rod into engagement with the copy material between the cutting station and the nip rollers. A third sensing element along the original feed path downstream of the first sensing element, detects the leading edge of the original and starts the nip rollers to move the leading end of the copy material in synchronism with the original. Upon the trailing edge of the original clearing the first sensing element, the dispensing of copy material from the roll is stopped and the crank arm arrangement, which controls a cutting device at the cutting station as well as the loop forming apparatus, operates the cutting device to sever a length of copy material corresponding to the length of the original, from the roll, and the loop forming apparatus to disengage the loop forming rod from the material. A fourth sensing element, laterally spaced from the first mentioned sensing element along the original feed path, initially selects an alternate copy material roll in the event the Width of the original document is greater than a predetermined width. The feeding and cutting apparatus is also equipped to sever a short length of copy material from the roll when no original is fed along the original feed path, for the purpose of trimming the leading end of a fresh roll of copy material. A manual cut mechanism is also provided for severing copy material from a selected roll when desired during the operation of the apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to apparatus used in roll fed copying machines for automatically dispensing and cutting lengths of copy material from a roll in accordance with varying sized originals and more particularly to apparatus of such type for feeding and accurately severing copy material lengths from a selected roll of copy material of a relatively large width.

Presently, copying machines of the diazo-type which process copies on wide i.e. 42-48 inches, diazo sensitized copy material, are not provided with apparatus for accurately, automatically severing from a roll, copy sheets of a length substantially equal to the original document from which the copies are made. Rather, in copying machines which use roll stock copy material, there is often provided an arrangement for manually severing a desired length of copy material from the roll prior to the processing thereof. Other machines using copy material of such widths require pre-cut sheets.

In both of the above-described instances, there is often times a need for further manual trimming of the final copy sheet to match the length of the original. The use of such arrangements is inefiicient and time consuming.

Attempts to provide automatic dispensing and cutting apparatus for diazo-type copying machines using relatively wide copy material have resulted in a slowing down of the productivity of the copying machine because of the time consumed in severing the Wide material. This problem along with others, occurs also in copying machines capable of producing copies at varying speeds.

In addition to the disadvantages mentioned heretofore, prior art copying machines normally oifer only one width of copy material from which to make copies of an original document. In the event an original is of a width considerably less than the copy material provided, the copy material must be trimmed manually once the copy is processed. This causes a waste of copy material and thus adds to the cost of producing copies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide automatic copy material dispensing and cutting apparatus for use in a copying machine which overcomes the disadvantages and short-comings discussed heretofore.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide feeding and cutting apparatus of the above-described type for use with relatively wide copy material.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide automatic copy material dispensing and cutting apparatus of the above-described type for use in variable speed, high output diazo-type copying machines, which does not reduce the rate of production of copies at the various operating speeds.

It is still another object of the invention to provide new and improved copy material dispensing and cutting apparatus for use in diazo-type copying machines wherein one of a plurality of rolls of copy material of varying widths is automatically selected in accordance with the width of the original document to be copied.

Briefly, a preferred embodiment of the copy material feeding and cutting apparatus according to the invention comprises a copy material cutting device mounted along the copy material feed path of a copying machine. The operation of the cutting device is controlled in accordance with the actuation of a sensing device disposed at a predetermined location along the original feed path of the machine; the latter paths converging at a pair of infeed rollers, whereby the original and copy material are fed in a superimposed condition into the copying machine past the copy processing stations. The sensing device detects the leading edge of the original fed into the machine and in response thereto, actuates the feeding of copy material from a roll along the copy path.

The copy material is fed through the cutting station along the copy path into the nip of a pair of driven feed rollers. Located adjacent the rollers downstream thereof is a second sensing device which senses the leading edge of the copy material. In response thereto, the last-mentioned roller pair ceases to rotate, preventing the leading end of the copy material from further movement along the copy path. Copy material nevertheless continues to be fed from the roll supply and is formed into a loop between the cutting device and the above-mentioned roller pair.

A third sensor is mounted at a predetermined location along the original feed path, downstream of the first sensing device. Upon sensing the leading edge of the original lowermost controls 64, 66 are the master on-olf buttons document by the third sensor, a predetermined time after the movement of the leading end of the copy material was stopped, the aforementioned feed roller pair in the copy path is again driven to transport the leading end of the copy material in synchronism with the original document. Because the second and third sensors are placed along the respective converging feed paths at locations substantially equal in distance from the infeed rollers mentioned above, the leading edges of the copy material and original are maintained in registration with each other as they are fed ultimately past the copy processing stations.

When the trailing edge of the original passes the first sensing device, the feeding of the copy material from the supply roll is discontinued and the cutting device is operated to sever a length of copy material from the roll substantially equal in length to the original.

The dispensing and cutting apparatus of the instant invention includes a unique clutch driven crank shaft arrangement for forming the slack loop in the copy material and to operate the cutting device to sever a length of copy material from the roll supply. The clutch is operated to rotate 180 in a predetermined direction in response to the actuation of the second sensing device by the leading edge of the copy material, whereby an elongated rod or bar member normally located adjacent the copy material path, is moved into engaging relation with the copy material, causing the latter to be formed into a loop thereabout. When the trailing edge of the original document is sensed by the first sensor device, the clutch is rotated a second 180 in the same direction to operate the cutting device, whereby the length of copy material is severed from the roll supply. At this time the clutch also returns the loop rod or bar to its home or normal position, out of engagement with the copy material.

A manually operated switch is provided to initiate a trim cycle for severing a short length of copy material from a selected roll thereby to provide a clean, straight edge after the introduction of a fresh copy material roll into the machine. The actuation of the manual switch begins the feeding of copy material from the roll supply along the copy path. Upon sensing the leading edge of the copy material at the second sensing device located in the copy path, the leading edge of the material is stopped, but the material continues to be fed from the supply roll. An incompleted smaller slack loop is formed and immediately thereafter, the leading edge of the copy material is once again driven by the aforementioned driven roller pair in the copy path. The feeding of material from the supply roll is stopped, and the material is cut by the cutting device. In the trim cycle a relatively short length of copy material is severed from the roll to avoid wasting copy material.

Still another manually operated switch is provided in the event the operator of the copying machine in which the feeding and dispensing apparatus according to the invention is used wishes to cut the copy material at a given moment during the normal copy cycle. By momentary depression of the last-mentioned manually operated switch, the copy feed roll is stopped from further feeding and the jack shaft assembly proceeds through the second 180 rotation to cause the severing of a copy material length.

If the operator depresses the manually actuated switch prior to the formation of a slack loop, however (i.e. before the leading edge of the original document has been sensed by the third sensor) there is provided circuitry which prevents the manually actuated cut from being realized until the third sensor detects the leading edge of the original. Upon the latter occurring, the cut takes place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the present invention and its organization and construction may be had by referring to the description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diazo-type copying machine in which copy material dispensing and cutting apparatus according to the invention may be used;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the copy material dispensing and cutting apparatus according to the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional perspective views of the clutch drive and slack loop forming bar portion of the clutch driven slack-loop forming and cutting arrangement employed in the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the copy material loop forming and cutting arrangement according to the invention;

FIGS. 6-9 are side views of the crank arm drive for the rotary cutting device portion of the clutch driven slack loop forming and cutting arrangement according to the invention, illustrating the sequence of operation thereof during the copy material loop forming and cutting cycle;

FIG. 10 is a sectional perspective view of the copy material feeding and cutting apparatus according to the invention, illustrating the travel of the copy material and its formation into a slack loop by means of the loop forming rod, and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry employed for effectuating the operation of the copy material feeding and cutting apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated an automatic copying machine of the diazo type, designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and embodying the roll feeding and cutting apparatus of the invention.

The machine 10 includes a housing 11 comprising front and back Walls 12 and 14, respectively (only one of which is shown), side walls 16 and 18 respectively (only one of which is shown), a top wall 20 and a base or bottom wall 22 (not shown).

A front cabinet-like portion 24, is attached to the front wall 12 of the copying machine and is provided to house a pair of rolls 26, 28 of copy material, in this case diazo sensitized paper 25, and the instrumentalities comprising the feeding and cutting apparatus according to the invention. The cabinet portion 24 includes a pair of side walls 30, 32, a bottom wall 34 (not shown) and a front wall 36 including a pair of hinged doors 38, 40, which cover an opening 42 through which the rolls 26, 28 are made accessible. Rolls 26, 28 are mounted on metal shafts 27, 29, respectively, extending between the side walls 30, 32. A third shaft 31 is also provided for the purpose of storing a spare roll of copy material if desired. A shelf 44 is provided along the top of cabinet portion 24. The side portions 46, 48 thereof can be used for storage or the like, while the center section 50 provides a delivery platform or support over which original tracings are fed into the copying machine 10 for the purpose of producing copies thereof. Feed rollers, shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings and which will be discussed hereinafter, are provided in a removable housing 52 which overlies the platform portion 50. The feed rollers serve to transport the original tracing into the machine 10 for processing.

At the center portion 54 of the copying machine there are shown the front delivery trays 56, 58 into which the original tracing and copy of the original are deposited upon completion of the copying cycle. Also seen in FIG. 1 are the transport belts 60 which serve to carry the lastmentioned documents through the machine.

At the sides of the center portion 54 of the machine 10, mounted on the front wall 12 thereof, are a pair of control panels including the various dials and switches for controlling the operation of the copy material feeding and cutting apparatus as well as the copy processing functions.

The control panel 62 at the right hand side of the machine as viewed in FIG. 1 includes seven controls. The

for the copying machine. Button -64, when depressed provides power to the copying machine and all instrumentalities included therein, and button 66, when depressed turns the power off. The remaining control knobs 67-71 control the ammonia gas temperature, flow, etc. used in developing copy sheets in the copying machine. Since the present patent application is concerned only with the feeding and cutting apparatus of the copying machine, no detailed discussion of the operation of the last-mentioned controls is given.

The control panel 72 at the left hand side of the machine as viewed in FIG. 1 includes eight controls mounted thereon. The lowermost controls 73, 74 supply power to the exposure lamp (not shown) used in imaging the copy material in accordance with the original tracing. Dials 75, 76 serve to control the ventilation of the ammonia developing gas. Dials 77, 78 control the intensity of the exposure lamp, and the uppermost knobs 79', 80 control the movement of the copy sheet through the developer section of the copying machine and the location of exit (front or rear) for the copies made of the original tracing.

Additional controls are also provided at the center section 54 of the copying machine on panel 82 thereof. The centermost control dial 84 is the speed control for the machine. With this control the rate of movement of the copy sheet and original through the machine may be varied.

The control 86 immediately to the right of the speed control dial 84, as viewed in FIG. 1, is a selector switch which determines whether or not the copy material feeding and dispensing apparatus is to be used. In the manual position, the last-mentioned apparatus is disabled so that copy sheet material may be fed manually into the machine in a superimposed condition with an original tracing. In the automatic setting the feeding and cutting apparatus is operable to feed and cut copy material from a selected roll in accordance with the feeding of an original into the machine. The control dial 88, immediately to the left of the speed control dial 8-4, permits the machine operator to select either of the rolls 26, 28 of copy material for use in making copies or to select an automatic mode wherein a copy material roll is selected automatically in accordance with the width of the original tracing being copied.

The switch 90 at the right hand side of panel 82 as viewed in FIG. 1, is the trim cycle switch. This switch, when actuated, causes the leading end of a selected copy material roll to be severed, without the need for an original to be introduced into the machine. This button is useful in preparing a clean, straight edge on a fresh copy material roll placed into the machine prior to making copies.

Button 92 is the manual cut button, used by the operator to initiate the cutting of a length of copy material from a roll at his convenience.

Three indicator lamps 94, 96, 98 also are provided on the panel 82 of the machine. Lamps 94, 96 indicate when the copy material on rolls 26, 28 respectively, is low, and lamp 98 indicates to the operator (when lit) that he may proceed with the next copy cycle.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is shown therein a side sectional view of the copy material feeding and cutting apparatus 100 incorporated in the cabinet portion 24 of the copying machine 10 of FIG. 1.

The paper feeding and cutting apparatus 100 includes first and second copy material dispensing arrangements 102, 104, for dispensing diazo sensitized copy paper of diiferent widths into the copy material path 106.

Each of the dispensing arrangements includes a pair of copy material feed rollers 107, 108 and 109, 110, respectively, for transporting copy material from a respective roll 26, 28, along a path 112, 114, respectively, toward a cutting station 116. Large diameter rollers 108 and 110' are driven, while smaller diameter rollers 107 and 109 are merely follower rollers which serve to maintain the paper 25 in contact with the driven rollers. A guide member 118, in each of the copy material paths, ensures the proper movement of the copy material toward copy material path 106. The guide members are covered by a removable plate 119 provided to permit access to the paths 112, 114 in the event of a paper jam. A curved cover plate 121 is mounted over roller 110 to prevent interference with the rotation thereof.

At cutting station 116 there is provided a rotary cutting device 122, including a rotating knife blade 123, which works in scissors fashion with a stationary blade 127, for severing lengths of copy material from a selected roll.

Downstream of cutting station 116, almost immediately thereafter, mounted adjacent the copy material path 106 for movement thereacross, is a slack loop forming rod or bar 1124. The ends, 125, of the rod are mounted in curved or arcuate slots or cut-outs, such as 126, in vertically extending plate members, 128, located at the ends of cutting device 122 (only one end shown). As illustrated in solid and dotted lines, the plate members 128 are rotatable along the path defined so as to move the rod 124 from a position on one side (above) the copy material path 106 to a position on the opposite side (below) the copy material path. In this manner, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, a slack loop 129 (FIG. 10) can be formed in the copy material 25 dispensed from either of the rolls 26, 28. The specific construction employed in a preferred embodiment of the invention for rotating plate members 128, will also be discussed hereinafter.

Beyond the rod 124 along path 106 and past copy material guide member 132, there is located a pair of infeed rollers 134, 136, which serve to transport copy material 25 and an original tracing T in a superimposed condition toward the copy processing stations (not shown) within copying machine 10. A switching device is mounted between infeed rollers 134, 136, and the loop forming rod '124 adjacent another pair of driven transport or nip rollers" 139, 141. The armature 137 of switching device 135 extends into path 106 to sense the leading edge of the copy material. Upon sensing the leading edge of the material nip rollers 139, 141, are braked and thereby prevented from rotating so as to stop the copy material, which has already passed through the nip 143 thereof, from additional movement along path 106 for a predetermined timei At this time the formation of a slack loop in the copy material is also initiated. A detailed description of the operation of the switching device 135, etc., will be given below.

The original document or tracing T fed over the platform portion 50 of shelf 44 (FIG. 1) is transported over an original feed path 138 (FIG. 2) which converges at the nip 140 of infeed rollers 134, 136, with copy material path 106. The original document is carried along original feed path 138 by means of spaced roller pairs 142, 144 and 146, 148 respectively. Upon reaching nip 140 of roller pair 134, 136, the leading edges of the original and copy material are in registration.

A plurality of switching devices 150, 152, 154, 156 is mounted in removable housing '52 along path 138 in spaced relation with respect to each other. Each of the switching devices includes an armature 15 1, 153, 155, and 157, respectively, extending into the original feed path 138 for engagement and detection of the leading and/or trailing edges of an original document.

The copy roll or width selector switch 150 is laterally spaced from the other switches which are mounted near the center of platform portion 50 to detect original documents of a width greater than a predetermined width. In this manner, as will be explained hereinafter, the proper width copy material is utilized in processing a copy of the document fed into the machine. The original feed detector switch 152 is provided to detect the leading and trailing edges of the original document. Upon detection of the leading edge of the original document, copy material from a selected roll is fed along copy path 106 and upon the detection of the trailing edge of the original the copy material is severed therefrom by cutter 122. Interval main taining switch 154 detects the passing of the original document along the path 138 and indicates the passing by turning off a lamp 98 on the control board 82 while the switch is engaged by the original. In this manner the operator is informed when he may feed another original document into the original path. The slack loop end switch 156 detects the leading edge of the original and restarts nip rollers 139, 141 in the copy path 106 thereby maintaining the leading edges of the copy material 25 and original in registration as they pass along their respective paths.

All of the feed rollers discussed heretofore, provided for feeding copy material 25 and/ or original documents, are driven by a common drive motor (not shown). Consequently the feeding speed of an original document and copy material are maintained substantially equal for any speed setting selected with dial 84 (FIG. 1).

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5 of the drawings, there is shown therein the slack loop forming and cutting structure identified generally as 160 used in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The structure 160 which includes the loop forming rod or bar 124 (FIG. 3) and the rotary cutting device 122, forms the slack loop in copy material 25 transported along copy path 106 and cuts the material from the roll, respectively.

Cutting device 122 (FIG. is mounted for rotation by means of shaft portions, such as 164, extending from each end thereof. The shaft portions 164 are mounted for rotation in bearings, 166, attached by fasteners, 1167, to vertically extending support walls, 168, located within the cabinet 24. The ends 162 of shaft portions 164 extend through walls 168 and emerge on the opposite side thereof.

Rotatable plate members, 128, to which the loop forming rod 124 is connected at each end 125 thereof in slots, 126 are also rotatably mounted on the shaft portions 164 extending from each end of the cutting device 122. The cutting device is rotatable on shaft portions 164 in the bearings 168. Plate members 128 (FIG. 5) as described also are mounted on shaft portions 164 and are independently rotatable with respect to the shaft portions 164 and the cutting device 122.

The rotation of both cutting device 1122 and loop forming rod 124 through plate members 128, is controlled by a crank shaft arrangement 170 (FIGS. 3 and 4) located at one end 172 of the cutting device 122. A pair of tie rods 174, 176, both of which are shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, interconnect the plate members 128 at the opposite ends of rotary cutting device 122 to ensure the simultaneous rotary movement of the plate members 128 upon the application of a rotational force by crank shaft arrangement 170 to the plate member 128 at end 172 of the cutting device.

The crank shaft arrangement 170 includes a first arm or crank shaft member 178, a first end 180 of which is pivotally connected to the plate member 128 and the opposite end I182 which is pivotally connected to one end 184 of a rectangular force transmitting block or lever arm 186, itself, mounted for rotation at its center 188 by a driven rotatable shaft 190. The shaft 190 extends through the wall 168 and is coupled to the drive motor (not shown) through an electromagnetic clutch mechanism 192. A gear member 193 mounted on shaft 190 is connected via chain drive member 195 (FIG. 5) to the drive motor.

A second crank shaft or arm 194 (FIGS. 6-9) is connected at a first end 196 to one end 197 of a second force transmitting block or lever arm 198 also fixed at its center 200 to shaft ".190 for rotation therewith. An electric brake mechanism 201 which works in conjunction with the clutch mechanism 192 described, is mounted on a bracket 203 shown overlying gear i193 and shaft 190 in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The operation of the brake and clutch mechanisms mentioned heretofore will be described below. The opposite end 202 of the crank arm 194 is connected to another force transmitting block 20 4 at one end 206 thereof. The block in turn is affixed at its center 208 to the end 162 of shaft 164 to provide rotational movement thereto.

It should be understood that the crank arm 178 working in conjunction with plate member 128 controls the movement of loop forming rod 122. The crank shaft member 194, on the other hand, connected directly to shaft portion 164 of the rotary cutting device 122, controls the movement of the last mentioned cutting device. As is illustrated in the various figures of the drawings, the force transmitting block 186 controlling the movement of crank arm 178 and block 198 controlling the movement of crank arm 194, are displaced at degrees with respect to each other; the block 186 being indexed 90 ahead of block 198 in the direction of rotation of shaft 190, as indicated by the arrows in the drawings. Consequently, the rotational force provided by the chain drive 195 to rotary shaft 190 will be translated through the crank shaft members 178, 194 to the loop forming rod and cutting device, respectively, in sequence.

Referring now to FIG. 11 of the drawings, there is illustrated therein, the circuitry 210 provided to control the operation of the preferred embodiment of the copy material dispensing and cutting arrangement heretofore described.

Power is supplied to the dispensing and cutting operating circuit 210 from electrodes 212, 214, connected to a 220 volt AC power source (not shown) which also supplies power to the instrumentalities located at the various copy processing stations Within copying machine 10. Electrode 214 is connected at ground potential, while electrode 212 is connected to the positive potential side of the power source.

Connected to the electrodes via leads 216, 218, is a step down transformer 220. An output voltage of volts, is provided by transformer 220 via leads 222, 224 to a pair of power switches 226a, 2261: operated in tandem. The movement of switches 226a, b, to a closed position powers the circuit 210 over main buss lines 228, 230.A fuse 232 in line 228, is provided as a safety measure.

Connected to line 228 at junction 234, is a lead wire 236 which in turn is connected to three parallel connected switches 238, 240, and 154, the last of which, as explained heretofore, is mounted along original feed path 138 for actuation by original documents passing therealong. Lamps 94, 96, 98 also discussed above, are connected in series lvia leads 242, 244, 246, with switches 238, 240, 154, respectively, and to ground via line 230.

Switches 238, 240, each of which is associated with one of the rolls, 26, 28 of copy material, are operable upon the depletion to a predetermined level of copy material from a corresponding roll. The operation of either of the switches 238, 240, lights a corresponding lamp 94, 96, indicating to the machine operator the need for replacing a roll of copy material.

The armature of switch 154 is normally in engagement with contact 243, to light lamp 98. The switch armature 155 is moved to contact 245 to deenergize lamp 98 by the engagement of an original document passing along path 138. The lamp is maintained in an off or unlighted condition so long as an original document is passing thereby, indicating to the operator that an original is being fed into the machine. When the lamp is relighted, the operator is informed that another original document may be fed into the copying machine 10.

A fail safe delay circuit 248, including a relay 250 connected in parallel with a capacitor 252 and the combination being in series with a diode 253 and resistor 254, is connected between contact 245 via lead 256 and ground potential line 230.

A lead 258 connected at junction 260 to line 228, terminates at a pair of open contacts 262, 264. Switch 9 contacts 312a are contacts of the trim cycle delay relay 312 and contacts 268a are contacts of the by-pass relay 268 for the manual cut circuitry, yet to be described in detail.

Another lead 270 connected at the junction 272 with buss line 228, is also connected to the armature 274 of break-make contacts 278a, 2781) of the trim cycle start relay 278 shown in FIG. VII. The make contact 278b is connected via lead 281 to the manual automatic switch 86 (FIG. 1) located on the center panel 82 of the copying machine 10. The last-mentioned switch is connected in series via lead 283 with the original feed detector switch 152 mounted along original path 138, which in turn is connected in series to the crank shaft rotational control switch 284 operated by the rotation of crank shaft arrangement 170 during the cutting cycle, to be described hereinafter. Connected between switch 284 and the ground potential buss line 230 to lead 285 is the slack bar and knife control relay 286.

The break contact 278a of relay 278 is connected at junction'290 via lead 291 to the armature 292 of normally open contact 294a of time cycle hold relay 294, and via lead 293 and the armature 296 to the break contact 294b of the break-make contacts 294b, 2940 of the same relay.

Normally open contacts 294a are connected, over lead 298, to one input 300 of a relay driver full wave rectifier 302; the opposite input being connected over lead 305 to buss line 230 at junction 306. The output terminals 308, 310 of the last-mentioned rectifier are connected to the parallel combination of lower supply roll drive control relay 312 and a capacitor 313.

The normally closed contact side 2941; of contacts 294b, 294c is connected via lead 315 to junction 316 whereat the manual cut button 92 is also connected. The manual cut button 92 is in turn connected via lead 317 to manual cut memory relay 318 which is connected to ground line 230.

A lead line 320 is connected at junction 316 to line 315 and to a make contact 322, of original feed detector switch 152. Contacts 318a of the manual cut memory relay 318 are connected across manual cut button 92 to leads 320, 317. The lead 320 also connects junction 316 to the armature 326 of a break-make contact set 268b, 2680 of by-pass relay 268.

The break contact 2681; of the contact set is connected via lead 332 to the armature 334 of the manual roll selector switch 88 (FIG. 1), which in turn is connected via lead 336 to the armature 151 of width selector switch 150 (FIG. 2), mounted in the original feed path 138. Contacts 338 and 340 of manual roll selector switch 88 and width selector switch 150, repectively, are connected via wire 342 to the armature 344 of contacts 348a of the upper supply roll drive control relay 348. The contact 348a is connected in turn at junction 352 over leads 354, 356, to an input 358 of a relay driver, full wave rectifier 360. The other input 362 is connected to 'buss line 230, and ground potential. The output terminals 364, 366 are connected to the parallel combination of lower supply roll drive control relay 368 and lower supply roll dri ve clutch 370. The latter is connected in series with a counter switch 372 which indicates through the lighting of lamp 94 (FIG. 1), that copy material from the lower supply roll 28 is low. Also connected between junction 352 and line 228 at junction 374, is a manually operated lower roll jog switch 376.

Contacts 378 and 380 of manual roll selector switch 88 and width selector switch 150, respectively, are connected via lead 382 to the armature 384 of contact 368a of the lower supply roll drive control relay 368. The contact 368a is connected via lead 388 to junction 390 and over leads 392, 394, to an input 396 of a full wave rectifier 398. The other input 400 of the rectifier is connected to ground potential buss line 230. The output terminals 402, 404 of full wave rectifier 398 are connected to the 10 parallel combination of upper supply roll drive control relay 368 and upper supply roll drive clutch 406. The clutch 406 is connected in series with a counter switch 408 which indicates through lamp 96 (FIG. 1) that copy material on upper roll 26 (FIG. 2), is low. Also connected between junction 352 and line 228 at junction 410, is a manually operated upper roll jog switch 412.

Referring again to contact set 2941), 2940 make contact 2 94c thereof is connected over lead 416 at junction 418 to the trim cycle hold relay 294 and to trim cycle start relay contact 2780. Contact 27 8c is in turn connected, by a lead 422 connected to the armature 420 of the lastmentioned contact to the make contact 424 of the crank shaft rotation control switch contacts 426, which are operated upon the operation of the crank shaft assembly during the loop forming cycle. The break side 428 of the contacts 426 is joined via lead 430 to wire 285. The armature 432 of control switch contacts 426 is in turn connected through normally open contact 436a of nip roll and slack loop control relay 436 and armature 434, over lead 438 and through normally open contact 36817 of the lower supply roll drive control relay 368 and armature 440 to full wave rectifier 360. Contact 348b and armature 442 of upper roll drive control relay 348 connect control switch contacts 426 to full wave rectifier 398.

At the junction 444, buss line 228 is connected, over lead 446, to break-make slack loop end switch 156. The break side 450 of the last-mentioned switch is connected over wire 452 through the make contact 454 of break-make slack loop start switch 135, upper and lower roll jog switches 456, 458, respectively, connected in series, and break contacts 294d of the trim cycle hold relay 294 to nip roll and slack loop control relay 436. The relay 436 is in turn connected to buss line 230 and ground potential. The make side 462 of slack loop end switch 156 is connected over lead 464, to an input 466 of full wave rectifier 468, the other input 470 being connected to ground potential at buss line 230. The output terminals 472, 474, are connected to the combination of non-resettable document counter 476, used for totaling the number of documents fed into machine 10, and a resettable document counter 478, for determining the number of documents fed into the machine over a given period of time.

The make side 462 of switch 156 is also connected through make contact 318b of the manual cut memory relay 318, armature 480 and lead 482 to by-pass manual cut relay 268, and over lead 484 to the make side 2680 of contacts 268b, 2680 of the same relay.

The trim cycle relay 278, mentioned heretofore, is connected between the power line busses 228, 230, through the series connected, normally open contact 250a and armature 486 of the fail safe delay relay 250 and normally closed trim cycle start and time delay switch 90. The break contact side 455 of loop start switch 135 is connected to lead 487 interconnecting contacts 250a and switch 90.

A full wave rectifier 490 is connected at its inputs 492, 494, via leads 496, 498 to the power buss lines 228, 230, respectively. The rectifier 490 is provided to power the drive clutch and brake arrangements, designated generally by the numeral 500, which operate the various driven roller members used for transporting original documents and copy material along the respective paths of the dispensing and cutting arrangement 100 (FIG. 2).

A pair of main output leads 502 504 are connected at the output terminals 506, 508, respectively, of the rectifier 490. Connected to output lead 510 of rectifier 490 is the nip roll brake delay relay 512. The latter relay is joined in parallel relation with a capacitor 514. The parallel combination 512, 514, is in turn connected through a resistor 516 over lead 518, and the armature 520 to make contact 512a of the relay 512 described above. The nip roll brake 524 is connected between the 11 make contact 5120 and the output terminal 508 via leads 525, 526, 528, 504.

Connected also to lead 518 by means of the make contact 4360 of break-make contact contacts 436b, 4361: of the nip roll and slack loop control relay 436, is the nip roll drive clutch 534; the clutch being connected back to the rectifier output terminal 508 via leads 536, 538, 504. The last-mentioned clutch 534 is normally connected by means of break contact 436b, armature 540 of relay 436, and lead 541 to the positive output terminal 506 of rectifier 490.

The lower supply roll drive clutch 542, and brake 544 and connected between the rectifier output leads 428 and 502 by means of lower supply roll drive control relay break-make contacts 3680', 368d. In the normal position, brake 544 is connected between leads 528, 502 through break contact terminal 3680, armature 550 and lead 552.

In the operated condition clutch 542, along with a resistor 554, connected in series therewith, is connected between output leads 528, 502 via make contact terminal 368d, armature 550 and lead 552. The upper supply roll clutch 558, along wth a resistor 560 in series therewith, and upper supply roll brake 562 are likewise connected in the same fashion to power leads 528, 502 by means of break-make contacts 3480, 348d and armature 564 of the upper supply ro'll drive control relay 348.

The clutch and brake mechanisms 192, 201, respectively (FIG. used in the operation of the slack loop forming bar and cutting device are powered by a Warner voltage control unit 566 of the well-known type. The inputs 568, 570 of the Warner control device are connected directly to the power buss lines 228, 230. The output 572 of the Warner unit is connected over lead 574 to one side of clutch 192 and lead 576 to one side of brake 201. Output 578 is connected over lead 580 and through make contact 286a and armature 586 of the loop forming rod and cutting knife control relay 286 to the other side of clutch 192, and over leads 580', 584 and break contact 2861) and armature 582 of the lastmentioned relay to the opposite side of brake 201.

For purposes of aflording a more complete understanding of the invention, it is advantageous now to provide a functional description of the mode in which the component parts illustrated in the various views of the drawings co-operate.

NORMAL OPERATING CYCLE To begin operation, the power'on button 64 (FIG. 1) for the diazo copying machine is depressed, providing power to the machine and the various instrumentalities at the copying processing stations therein. Next the operator closes switches 226a and b (FIG. 11) to provide power to the dispensing and cutting arrangement circulitry 210. Once the power to the circuit has been provided, trim cycle relay 278 is energized through the slack loop end switch 156, the slack loop start switch 135 and the trim cycle start and time delay switch 90. In operating relay 278, the armature 274 of its contacts 278a, 278b moves from the normally closed contact terminal 278a to contact terminal 278b. Contacts 2780 of the same relay likewise are opened. Also operated are the nip roll drive clutch 534, lower and upper supply roll brakes 544, 562, respectively, and the brake 201 of the slack loop forming bar and cutting device arrangement. At this time, the copying machine 10 and feeding and cutting arrangement 100 are in the standby condition.

To operate the dispensing and cutting arrangement 100 the operator must set switch 86 (FIG. 1) to the automatic copy material feed position. If set to the manual setting copy material will not be fed automatically into the machine. Rather, a sheet of copy material must then be fed in a superimposed position with the original tracing into the machine along path 138 (FIG. 2). The roll selector dial 88 may be set in either the upper or lower roll position, wherein armature 334 of the switch (FIG. 11) is moved either to contact 378 or contact 338, respectively. In this manner, no matter what the width of the original document fed into the machine, copy material from-the roll selected is fed into the machine. On the other hand, armature 334 may be placed in the automatic position, making a connection to contact terminal 339. In this manner width or roll selector switch 150 (FIG. 2) determines from which roll copy material is fed into copy path 106.

For the purpose of the instant description, it will be assumed that the armature 334 is in the automatic setting.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the operator initially feeds an original document (not shown) along platform portion 50 into original path 138. The original document is positioned at the center 590 (FIG. 1) of feed platform 50 to insure engagement with switches 152, 154, 156. In the event the original is of a width great enough to engage switch 150, spaced laterally from the other switches (in the case of the preferred embodiment, greater than 42 inches), armature 151 extending into the path 138 of the original is moved by the original into engagement with contact terminal 380 (FIG. 11), selecting the wider, upper roll copy material feed relay 348 for operation.

If the original document is not sufficiently wide to engage the switch armature 151 of copy roll selector switch 150, armature 151 remains in the normal position engaging contact 340. Thus the narrower copy material of lower roll 28 (FIG. 1) is selected to be fed into machine 10 at the appropriate time.

For the present discussion it will be assumed that the original document fed along path 138 is of a width less than 42 inches anddoes not engage switch armature 151. The case wherein the width of the original document is sufiicient to engage switch arm 151 will be discussed hereinafter.

The original document is carried by feed rollers 142, 144 (FIG. 2) past switch 152 whereat the leading edge of the document engages switch armature 153. The armature is moved into contact with terminal 322 (FIG. 11), completing a circuit for lower (narrow) supply roll drive control relay 368. The last mentioned relay is operated through full-wave rectifier 360, contact 348a of upper supply roll drive control relay 348, switches 150, 88, contact 268b of relay 268, switch 152, manual/automatic switch 86 and contact 278b of the energized trim cycle relay 278. Upon the operation of relay 368, its contacts 368b are operated to maintain a holding circuit therefore. Also, the armature 550 of the relay contacts 3680, 368d is moved to contact terminal 368d dropping out the lower supply roll brake 544 and energizing the lower supply roll drive clutch 542. In addition, relay contacts 368a are opened to block and prevent the operation of the upper supply roll drive control relay 348.

At this time, the clutch 542 causes driven roller to begin feeding copy material 25 from roll 28 (FIG. 1) along path 114 toward copy material path 106, The copy material passes through the cutting station 116, and driven nip rollers 139, 141 toward switch armature 137 of slack loop start switch 135. During this time, the original document T is likewise being advanced at the same speed along original path 138 toward switch 154 therealong. As the leading edge of the original trips armature 155 of switch 154, a circuit is completed for the energization of fail-safe delay relay 250 (FIG. 11). The operation of the switch 154 also turns off lamp 98, indicating to the operator that an original document in passing along original path 138. When relay 250 is energized, its contacts 250a are closed to provide a holding circuit for the relay 278.

At this time, the copy material 25 engages switch armature 137 to commence the generation of a slack loop in the copy material. When relay is energized, the following sequence of events takes place. Upon operation of switch 135, the armature 137 thereof is moved from the break contact 455 to the make contact 454. The transfer of the switch 135 provides an energizing circuit for the nip roll and slack loop control relay 436. The lastmentioned circuit comprises the trim cycle hold relay contact 294d, the normally closed jog switch contacts 458, 456, switch 135, and slack loop end switch 156. The energization of relay 436 causes its contacts 436a to be closed completing the circuit for the energization of relay 286 through the normally closed contact of the crank shaft rotation control switch 426. Contacts 4361: of relay 436 are also closed, energizing relay 512 and deenergizing the nip roll drive clutch 534.

The loop forming bar and cutting device control relay 286, now being energized operates its contacts 286b to deenergize the slack loop bar and cutting device brake 201. Also, contacts 582 of relay 286 are transferred energizing the slack loop bar and cutting device clutch 192. The energization of the last-mentioned clutch begins the first 180 rotation of the crank shaft assembly (FIG. 2.) wherein loop forming rod 124 is caused to engage the copy material 25 passing therebeneath along path 106.

Referring to FIGS. 2-10 of the drawings, there is illustrated the sequential operation of the slack loop forming crank arm 1 78 and cutting crank arm 194. Upon the energization of clutch 192 (FIG. rod 190 is rotated in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6-9.

Looking at FIGS. 3 and 4 the crank arm 178 is moved from its initial position in FIG. 3, 180 to its position in FIG. 4. In accordance therewith, the plate members 128 are likewise rotated so that loop forming rod 124 intercepts and engages the copy material 25, thereby forming a loop therein, as seen in FIG. of the drawings.

At the same time, the rotation of rod 190, 180 in the direction of the arrow, also causes force transmitting block 198 (FIGS. 6-8) to be rotated 180 to in turn move crank arm 194 forward as shown. The movement of crank arm 194 causes the force transmitting block 204 also to be moved forward in the direction of arrow 592 (FIG. 7) and to rotate shaft portions 164 to which the cutting device 122 is mounted in the same direction. However, during this first 180 loop forming cycle, the cutting device is merely rocked or rotated so that the movable blade 123 is moved away from the stationary blade 127 and back to its initial position (FIG. 8) without permitting the movable blade 123 to engage stationary blade 127. No cutting of the copy material is performed during the loop forming cycle.

Rotation of shaft 190 the first 180 for the loop forming cycle causes switch 284 to be closed, providing an operating circuit for relay 286. Also, upon energizing relay 512, its contacts 512a were operated, to in turn operate the nip roll brake 524, stopping further rotation of nip rollers 139, 141 and detaining the leading edge of the copy material 25 along copy path 106.

Electrically, as the first 180 rotation is executed, switch 426 is dropped out, causing control relay 286 to be deenergized. The deenergization of relay 286, provides the necessary transfer of contacts 28611 to deenergize clutch 192 and contacts 286b to energize brake 201, thereby stopping further rotation of rod 190 and the movement of crank bars 178, 194.

A predetermined time after, the first 180 rotation of the crank bar arrangement 100 has been completed, the original document moving along path 138, reaches the slack loop end switch 156 and engages armature 157 thereof. The operation of switch 156 deenergizes nip roll and slack loop control relay 436. Also, due to the movement of armature 157 to contact 462, the copy counters 476, 478, are turned on. The deenergization of relay 436, causes its contacts 43612 to be operated, dropping out relay 512 and energizing the nip rollers (139, 141) drive clutch 534. The deenergization of relay 512 in turn deenergizes nip roll brake 524.

At this time, the leading edge of copy material 25 once more is fed along path 106 (FIG. 2) toward infeed rollers 134, 136. The original document also continues to be fed along path 138 toward rollers 134, 136. The positioning of switch 156 along path 138 and the nip rollers 139, 141 along path 106 is such that the leading edges of the original document and copy material will be maintained in registration with each other upon entering the nip of infeed rollers 134, 136.

Upon the trailing edge of the original document leaving switch 152, the switch armature 153, drops back to its original position, breaking with contact 322, thereby to deenergize the lower supply roll drive relay 368. The deenergization of the last-mentioned relay causes contacts 3680, 368d thereof to return to their normal position, deenergizing lower supply roll drive clutch 542 and energizing brake 544, stopping driven roller 110 from the further feeding of copy material from roll 28.

The movement of switch armature 153 to its normal position also provides an operating circuit through switch contacts 284 for relay 286. The operation of the latter relay causes its contacts 286a to be made energizing the slack loop forming bar and cutting device clutch 192. Contacts 286b likewise are opened to release brake 201. Thus, the cutting cycle or second rotation of shaft (FIG. 5) takes place.

Referring to FIGS. 3-9 once again, upon operation of the clutch 192, shaft 190 is again rotated in the direction of the arrows, causing crank bar 178 to rotate plate members 128 in the opposite direction for the return of loop forming rod 124 to its initial position. Gradually the slack loop, shown in FIG. 10, is diminished while the leading end of the copy material continues to be fed into the copying machine. The trailing end of the copy material, however, adjacent the cutting blades 123, 127, remains stationary.

Simultaneously with the movement of bar 124 to its normal or start position shown in FIG. 3, the crank arm 194 moves the force transmitting block 204 in the direction of arrow 594 (FIG. 9) so that movable cutting blade 123 engages stationary blade 127 (FIG. 2) to sever a length of copy material 25 from the roll 28. The crank arm 194 is then returned to its normal or start position shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, whereby cutting device 122 likewise returns to its normal condition.

As the second 180 (cutting cycle) rotation takes place, switch 284 is opened by the rotational action of shaft 190. The opening of switch 284 deenergizes the slack loop bar and cutting device control relay 286. Contacts 286a of the relay are opened to deenergize slack loop bar and cutting device clutch 192 and contacts 286b close to energize brake 201, stopping further rotation of the rod 190. The crank shaft arrangement 100 is now in its normal position.

The superimposed original document and severed copy material length, continue to be carried by infeed rollers 134, 136 into the copying machine 10. When the trailing edge of the original document leaves switch armature 155 of switch 154, the fail safe delay relay 250 (FIG. 11) is deenergized and lamp 98 is restored to an on condition to indicate to the operator that another original may now be fed along platform portion 50 of the feed board. Furthermore, the relay contacts 25001 are opened, thereby opening the holding circuit for relay 278.

Switch 156 in the original path and switch 135 in the copy path are released simultaneously by the trailing edges of the original and severed copy material lengths, respectively. The release of switch 156 causes the deenergization of copy counters 476, 478 whereby the count thereon is increased by one unit, and the release of switch 135, rcinstates the operating circuit for trim cycle start relay 278.

The machine has now completed a full operation and is in the stand-by condition awaiting the feeding of an other original along board or platform portion 50 (FIG. 2).

As mentioned heretofore, the above description was directed to the processing of an original document less than 42 inches in width. In the event the width of the original is equal to or greater than 42 inches; i.e. sufiiciently wide to operate switch 150, the following occurs.

When roll selector or width switch 150 is tripped by the engagement of the leading edge of an original document, the switch arm 151 is moved into contact with terminal 380 (FIG. 11). Upon operating switch 152 thereafter, a circuit for upper supply roll drive control relay 348 is completed. The last-mentioned relay is operated through full wave rectifier 398, contacts 368a of lower supply roll drive control relay 368, switch 150, switch 88, contact 268k or by-pass for manual cut relay 268, switch 152, automatic/manual switch 86 and the closed contacts 278b of energized relay 278.

The energization of relay 348 causes, through the operation of its contacts 348e, 348d, the energization of upper supply roll drive clutch 558 and the deenergization of upper supply roll brake 562, thereby driving roller 108 (FIG. 2) to feed copy material 25 from roll 26. The copy material from the last-mentioned roll 26, is as seen in FIG. 1, of a greater width than that of roll 28 so as to accommodate the wide original document.

MANUAL CUT If during the operation of the dispensing and cutting arrangement 100 according to the invention, the operator desires to sever the copy material 25 from the roll from which it is being fed, he may operate the manual cut button 92 mounted on the center control panel 82 of the machine (FIG. 1).

Momentary depression of button 92 energizes manual cut memory relay 318 (FIG. 11) through manual cut button 92, switch 152 operated by the original document passing along path 138 (FIG. 2), switch 86 and contacts 27812 of relay 278.

The operation of relay 318 causes its contacts 318b to close, forming a holding circuit for itself, and contact 318b to close providing an operating circuit for the bypass for manual cut relay 268.

At this time one of two conditions exists:

(1) The original document has tripped the slack loop end switch 156 in the original path 138; or

(2) The document has not yet reached the switch 156, and it must still be operated by the engagement of the original document.

In the case of the first condition, the transfer of relay contacts 318b energizes relay 268 through the operated switch 156. The energization of relay 268 operates its contacts 268b, 2680 opening the circuit for relays 368 or 348 depending on the positioning of contacts 150 and/or dial 88. The contacts 268a are likewise closed to provide a by-pass circuit for loop forming bar and cutting device control relay 286.

When either relay 368 or 348, as the case may be, is deenergized corresponding contacts 3680, 368d or 3480, 348d, are operated to deenergize a corresponding clutch 544 or 562 and to energize a corresponding brake 542 or 558, stopping the delivery of copy material 25 from a respective roll.

The loop forming bar and cutter knife control relay 286 being energized, through closed contacts 284 transfers its contacts 286b and 286a, deenergizing slack loop forming bar and cutting device brake 201 and energizing clutch 192 to start the second 180 rotation or cutting cycle of the crank arrangement 100. At this time, the loop formed in copy material 25 is gradually diminishing and tshe1 gutting of the copy material commences (see FIGS.

At the end of the cutting cycle, switch contacts 284 are opened due to the rotation of shaft 190, opening the circuit to relay 286. The deenergization of relay 286 in turn tr n fers con acts 286b to reengage the brake 201 for the 16 slack loop bar and cutting device, stopping the operation thereof. The remaining steps are similar to those described above and proceed as if a normal cutting operation has occurred.

If the second condition described above exists at the time the operator depresses manual cut button 92, the transfer of contacts 3l18b of the manual cut memory relay 318 does not initiate the cutting cycle immediately. Instead, the contacts remain closed until such time as the switch 156 'is transferred by the action of the leading edge of the original document against the armature 157 of the last-mentioned switch. After switch 156 is transferred, the cutting cycle proceeds as described under the first condition.

'IlRIM CYCLE As explained heretofore, upon adding a fresh roll of copy material to the dispensing and cutting device according to the invention, it is desirable to provide an even, straight leading edge thereto to ensure a neat initial copy. Thus, provision has been made to initiate the loop forming and cutting cycles without the requirement that an original document be fed into the copying machine.

Depression of switch 90 on the front control panel 82 of the copying machine begins the trim cycle operation. The operation of switch 90 opens the operating circuit for trim cycle start relay 278. Upon deenergization of relay 278, its contacts 278a, 278b transfer, disabling original feed detector switch 152 and completing a circuit for lower or upper supply roll drive control relay 368 or 348, depending upon the setting of selector switch 88. For purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that the switch 88 is in the automatic setting shown in FIG. 11 and switch is also as shown, thereby operatinglower supply roll drive control relay 368..

Upon the energization of relay 368, contacts 368b transfer to provide a holding circuit for the relay 368 and contacts 3680, 368d transfer, energizing lower supply roll drive clutch 542 and deenergizing lower supply roll brake 544 to begin the feeding of copy material from roll 28. Contacts 368a likewise transfer to block out upper supply roll drive control relay 668, preventing unwanted triggering of the unselected roll 26.

As copy material 25 moves along path 138 it proceeds through the cutting station 116 and rotary cutting device 122, and nip rollers 169, 141 (FIG. -2) until it actuates the loop forming start switch 135. The switch 135 in turn operates nip roll and slack loop forming control relay 436. The last-mentioned control relay operates its contacts 436a completing a circuit path for slack loop formmg bar and cutting device control relay 286. Contacts 43Gb of relay 436 are likewise transferred, deenergizing nip roller drive clutch 564 and completing a circuit for nip roll brake delay relay 512.

The operation of relay 286 through switch 426, contacts 436a, contacts 26817 of relay 268, contacts 294b of the trim cycle hold relay 294 and the contacts 278a of trim cycle start relay 278, causes the transfer of its contacts 286b and 286a to deenergize the slack loop forming bar and cutting device control brake 201 and energize the drive clutch 192 therefor; the latter causing the rotation of shaft 190 (FIG. 5), thereby to begin the rotation of plate members 1128 in the first direction so as to cause rod 124 to engage and divert the copy material 25 from path 106, forming a slack loop therein.

At this time nip roll brake delay relay 512, which is a slow acting relay, has been energized. The energization of relay 512 energizes brake 524 of the nip rollers 139, 141, stopping the forward movement of the leading end of copy material 25 along path 106 during the slack loop generation.

The rotation of shaft 190 during the loop forming cycle (first rotation) trips switch 426 which stops the shaft from rotating beyond 180. The operation of switch 426 drops out the relay 286 which in turn, through its contacts 286a and 286b, deenergizes the slack loop form- 1 7 ing bar and cutting device control clutch 192 and energizes brake 201, respectively.

Through the operation of switch 426 the trim cycle hold relay 294 is energized. The operation of relay 294 moves armature 296 to contact 2940 to provide a holding circuit for relay 294 and drops out lower supply roll drive control relay 368. Upon the relay 368 dropping out its contacts transfer causing, through contacts 368d, 368c the deenergization of clutch 542 and the energization of brake 544 to stop the further feeding of copy material from the roll 28.

When relay 294 was operated, its contacts 294d were also closed causing the deenergization of nip roll and slack loop forming control relay 436. The last-mentioned occurrence causes the contacts 436b of relay 436 to transfer, deenergizing brake 524 for the nip rollers 139, 141 (FIG. 2) and relay 512 as well as energizing nip roller clutch 534. The operation of the last-mentioned clutch, causes the leading end of the copy material 25 to once again be transported along path 106. The transfer of relay contacts 294a of trim cycle hold relay 294, provides a current path for trim cycle delay relay 312. When the latter, which is a slow operating relay, is energized its contacts 312a are operated to provide a by-pass circuit for relay 286 which is thus operated to complete the second 180 rotation of shaft 190', and the cutting cycle.

The slack loop bar and cutting device control relay 286, through its contacts 286a, 286b, energizes clutch 192 and deenergizes brake 201. The cutting sequence thus begins to sever a relatively short length (i.e. approximately eight inches) of copy material 25 from the roll.

Switch 284 is transferred by the rotation of shaft 190 at the end of the second 180 rotation, dropping out relay 286 which releases clutch 192 and operates brake 201 to stop the shaft 190' from further rotation.

After the copy length is cut from the roll it proceeds along path 106 and the trailing edge thereof releases switch 135 (FIG. 2). The transfer of switch 135 reestablishes the circuit for relay 278 through the trim cycle start and time delay switch 90.

The energization of relay 278, through its contact 278b restores the circuit for switch I152 and drops out relays 294 and 312. Contacts 2780 are also operated, opening the operating circuit for relay 294. With the last-mentioned relay deenergized, its contacts 294b, 294e, 294d and 294a are transferred, opening the holding circuit for relay 294, restoring the circuit nip roll and slack loop control relay 436 and opening the circuit for trim cycle delay relay 312, respectively. When the relay 312 is deenergized its contacts 312a open the by-pass circuit for relay 286 to restore the apparatus to its stand-by condition, and to complete the trim cycle.

The last-described cycle as mentioned heretofore, provides a clean leading edge for a newly mounted copy material roll, thereby preparing the machine for the receipt of an original document to be copied. It should be understood that because of the rapid transition from the loop forming cycle to the cutting cycle, a full loop in the copy material is not formed, rather an incomplete or modified loop is formed. Consequently, only a short length of copy material (8 inches) is severed from the copy material roll during the trimcycle.

Oftentimes an original document T is fed over original feed path 138 to actuate sensor 152 and is then, for some reason, removed from the path. In this case, the momentary actuation of sensor 152 is interpreted by the apparatus 100 as if the trim cycle switch 90 were activated, and the apparatus proceeds to operate in the manner explained heretofore for the trim cycle operation. While it may appear possible to activate and deactivate sensor 152 by the feeding and removal of the original document respectively, by an operator prior to the leading edge of the copy material 25 being sensed by sensor 135, in actuality one cannot remove the original document before the latter occurs. If it were possible to remove the original from the feed path 138 prior to the copy material being sensed by sensor 135, the copy material would only be fed along copy path 106 without reaching the sensor 135. A subsequent feeding of an original into feed path 138 would once again begin the movement of copy material 25 along path 106.

In the last-mentioned description of the trim cycle operation of the dispensing and cutting arrangement it was assumed that the leading end of a fresh roll of copy material had been fed into copy path 106.

There are provided however, in the operating circuitry of the invention, double-poled jog switches which permit an operator to control mechanically the feeding of the leading end of a fresh copy roll into a respective feed path in preparation for use in the copying machine.

The jog switch contacts 456 and 412 provided in circuit 210 are operated upon the addition of a fresh upper copy material roll. The momentary operation of the ganged jog switch contacts causes, through switch contacts 412 the momentary operation of upper supply roll drive control relay 348, which in turn drives roller 108, thereby to advance the leading end of the fresh copy roll into the path 114 toward its position adjacent path 106. At the same time, switch contacts 456, serve, as a safety measure to disable the nip rollers 139, 141 to prevent any chance of drawing the copy material into the machine in the event the leading end thereof is fed too far along path 106.

The ganged switch contacts 376 and 458 serve the same purpose when the operator is refilling the lower copy roll position.

The last-mentioned switches provide a means for quickly and easily replenishing copy material in the dispensing and cutting arrangement 100 with little or no manual feeding of the copy material into the copy path.

The dispensing and cutting arrangement 100 of the invention described above provides unique apparatus for efficiently and effectively severing lengths of copy material from a selected roll in accordance with the length of an original document wherein the original document is of a relatively large width. The loop forming action of the apparatus permits the movement of copy material along the copy path of the apparatus in registration with an original document to be copied, while at the same time providing the necessary interval for the relatively wide copy material to be severed. The latter is accomplished with little or no delay since the formation of the loop permits the simultaneous actions to be performed with case.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made. It is therefore contemplated to cover by the present application any and all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus for a copying machine using continuous copy material which in contact with an original to be copied, is fed between infeed rollers into said copying machine for processing, said apparatus comprising:

a storage roll of said copy material, first means for feeding said material from said roll along a path toward said infeed rollers,

cutting means located along said copy material path between said infeed rollers and said storage roll,

second feed means adjacent said cutting means along said copy material path for feeding the leading end of said copy material toward said infeed rollers,

original feed means for conveying an original document to be copied along an original feed path converging toward said infeed rollers;

a first sensing means for sensing the leading edge of the original upon insertion of the latter into said original feed path and the trailing edge thereof, said sensing means controlling the activation of said first feed means upon sensing the leading edge of said original, and controlling the activation of said cutting means to sever a length of copy material from said roll substantially equal in length to said original upon sensing the trailing edge of said original,

second sensing means positioned downstream of said second copy material feed means for sensing the leading edge of said copy material,

copy material loop forming means along said copy path downstream of said cutting means, said second feed means and said loop forming means operable in response to the sensing by said second sensing means of the leading edge of said copy material to prevent further movement of the leading end of said copy material and to form a slack loop in said material, respectively, and

third sensing means located along said original feed path downstream of said first sensing means, for sensing the leading edge of said original,

said second feed means being operable in response to the sensing of said original by said third sensing means to feed the leading edge of said copy material toward said infeed rollers in synchronism with said original document prior to the severing of said length of copy material from said roll in response to the detection of the trailing edge of said original document by said first sensing means.

2. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said loop forming means includes an elongated member mounted for movement toward and away from said copy material path, for engagement and disengagement with said copy material moving therealong, said member being moved into engagement with said copy material to form a loop therein upon the activation of said second sensing means by the leading edge of said copy material, and being moved out of engagement with said copy material in response to the sensing of the trailing edge of said original document by said first sensing means.

3. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cutting means includes a movable blade portion and a fixed blade portion, said movable blade portion being mounted for rotation into and out of engagement with said fixed blade portion, wherein said elongated member of said loop forming means is mounted on rotatable means for movement into and out of engagement with said copy material, and wherein said cutting means and said loop forming means are operated by a crank shaft assembly including a pair of crank arms, one end of each of which is connected to a shaft portion mounted for rotation in response to the sensing of said leading edge of said copy material by said second sensing means and a trailing edge of said original by said first sensing means, respectively, the other ends of said crank arms being attached to said loop forming means and cutting means, respectively.

4. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus for a copying machine using continuous copy material which is fed into an infeed station of said copying machine for processing into copies of an original document, said roll feeding and cutting apparatus comprising:

a storage roll of copy material,

means for feeding said copy material from said roll along a copy path toward said infeed station; cutting means positioned along said copy path for severing lengths of copy material from said roll,

original feed means for conveying an original document to be copied along an original feed path;

sensor means activated by the leading edge of the original upon introduction of the latter into the original feed path and deactivated by the trailing edge thereof said sensor means controlling the actuation of said copy material feed means upon the activation of said sensor means by said original;

means for forming a slack loop in said copy material;

and

means for stopping the movement of the leading end of said copy material when the latter is moved downstream of said cutting means and prior to reaching said infeed station, and a predetermined time thereafter permitting said leading end to again be moved along said copy path toward said infeed station,

said loop forming means forming a slack loop in said copy material during the time said leading end of said copy material is stopped,

said original sensor means controlling the operation of said copy material feed means to discontinue the feeding of copy material from said roll and the activation of said cutting means to sever a length of copy material from said roll substantially equal in length to said original upon deactivation of said sensor means by the trailing edge of said original, subsequent to the continuation of movement of the leading end of said copy material along said path.

5. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for stopping the movement of said leading end of copy material along the copy path includes a sensing device and feed means, said feed means being located adjacent said cutting means for transporting said leading end of said copy material along said copy path and being disabled upon the sensing of said copy material by said last-mentioned sensing device, and Wherein said apparatus includes an additional sensor means positioned along said original path, downstream of said original sensor means, also for detecting the leading edge of said original document, said additional sensor means being actuated in response to the sensing of the leading edge of said original document to restart said feed means, thereby to continue to transport said copy material towards said infeed station.

6. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including a second storage roll of copy material of a width different from that of said first mentioned storage roll, a second sensor means mounted along the original feed path and spaced laterally a predetermined dis tance from said first mentioned sensor means and control means operable in response to the actuation of said second sensor means by the original document passing along said original feed path to cause the feeding of copy material from said second storage roll of copy material upon said sensor means being activated by the leading edge of said original.

7. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus for a copying machine using continuous copy material which is fed into an infeed station of said copying machine for processing into copies of an original document, said apparatus comprising: a supply roll of copy material; first means for dispensing said material from said roll along the copy path towards said infeed station; cutting means positioned along said copy path for severing lengths of material from said roll; original feed means for conveying an original document to be copied along an original feed path; first sensor means actuated by the leading edge of the original and deactuated by the trailing edge thereof, said first sensor means controlling the actuation of said first copy material feed means to feed material from said roll along said copy path in response to the sensing of said leading edge of said original; means located along said copy path, downstream of said cutting means, for forming a loop in said copy material; second copy material feed means positioned along said copy material path downstream of said cutting means; second sensor means positioned along said copy path and actuated by the leading edge of said copy material to disable said second feed means, thereby to stop the movement of said leading end of said copy material and to operate said loop forming means to form a loop in said material; and third sensor means positioned along said original path, downstream of said first sensor means, operable in response to the engagement by the leading edge of said original document, to cause said second copy material feed means to restart the feeding of the leading end of said copy material along said copy path, said first copy material feed means being deactuated to stop the feeding of copy material from said supply and said cutting means being operated to sever a length of copy material from said roll, upon the trailing edge of said original document deactuating said first sensor means.

8. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus for a copying machine using continuous copy material fed into an infeed station for processing into copies of an original document, said apparatus comprising: a supply roll of copy material; first means for feeding the material from said roll toward the infeed station; cutting means positioned along a copy path for severing lengths of copy material from said roll; switch means actuable to operate said first feed means to begin feeding material from said copy roll; second copy material feed means downstream of said cutting means for transporting the leading end of said copy material along said path; sensing means along said copy path downstream of said cutting means for detecting the leading edge of said copy material and in response thereto, disabling said second feed means for a predetermined time interval; and control means for restarting the feeding of said leading end of said copy material after said predetermined time interval and for discontinuing the operation of said first copy material feeding means and for operating said cutting means, thereby to sever a length of copy material from said roll.

9. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus for a copying machine using continuous copy material fed into an infeed station for processing into copies of an original document, said apparatus comprising: a supply roll of copy material; first means for feeding copy material from said roll along the copy path towards said infeed station; cutting means positioned along said copy path for severing a length of material from said roll; original feed means for feeding an original document to be copied along an original feed path; original sensor means actuated by the leading edge of said original and deactuated by the trailing edge thereof; second copy material feed means positioned downstream of said cutting means for feeding the leading end of said copy material along said path; copy material sensor means positioned downstream of said cutting means adjacent said second feed means along said copy path and actuated by the leading edge of said copy material; and control means operable in response to the actuation of said original sensor means by the leading edge of the original document to operate said first copy material feed means to begin feeding copy material to the sensing of the leading edge of said copy material by said copy material sensing means, to discontinue the operation of said second copy material feed means for a predetermined time, thereby to discontinue the movement of the leading end of said copy material along said path for said predetermined time, and to reinitiate the operation of said second feed means after said predetermined time, to continue the feeding of the leading end of said copy material along said path thereafter, and said control means being operable further in response to the detection of the trailing edge of said original document by said original sensor means to discontinue the feeding of said copy material from said roll, and to operate said cutting means to sever a length of copy material from said roll.

10. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further including second original sensor means positioned along said original feed path at a predetermined location, said second original sensor means detecting the leading edge of said original document to actuate said control means, whereby said control means is operated to restart the feeding through said second copy material feed means of said leading end of said copy material along said path.

11. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further including means for forming a slack loop 22 portion in said copy material operable in response to the sensing of the leading edge of said copy material by said copy material sensor means, between said cutting means and said infeed station.

12. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said slack loop forming means includes an elongated member and means mounting said member adjacent said copy material path for movement into and out of engagement with said copy material, thereby to produce said slack loop portion.

13. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said cutting means includes a rotary cutting assembly and means for mounting said assembly for rotation about its axis between cutting and non-cutting positions, and wherein said control means includes slack loop and cutting drive means for operating said slack loop forming and cutting means, the last-mentioned drive means comprising a driven rotatable shaft and a pair of crank arms, one end of each of which is pivotally connected to said shaft and the other ends of which are pivotally connected to the mounting means for said slack loop forming member and said rotary cutting means, respectively, and means for driving said shaft, said slack loop and cutting device means being operable in response to the sensing of the leading edge of said copy material by said copy material sensor means to rotate said shaft a predetermined distance in one direction, whereby a first one of said crank arms moves said elongated loop forming member into engagement with said copy material, and said drive beings operable subsequent the predetermined time to rotate said shaft an additional predetermined distance in said one direction whereby the second one of said crank arms moves said cutting assembly from a non-cutting position to a cutting position.

14. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said first one of said crank arms is operated to move said loop forming member out of engagement with said copy material during the cutting of said copy material.

15. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further including a manually operated switching device for actuating said copy material feed means to feed copy material from said supply roll along said copy path when no original is present on said original feed path.

16. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further including manually operated switch means for operating said control means to discontinue the feeding of copy material from said roll and to operate said cutting means to sever a length of copy material from said roll prior to the detection of the trailing edge of said original document by said original sensor.

17. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein a force transmitting member is interposed between each said one end of each said crank arm and said rotatable shaft, each force transmitting member being mounted for rotation with said shaft and being pivotally mounted at a free end thereof to said one end of a respective crank arm, the free end of the force transmitting member of said first one of said crank arms being a predetermined number of degrees ahead of the free end of the force transmitting member of said other crank arm in the direction of rotation of said shaft whereby the rotary motion of said shaft during a first in said one direction causes a slack loop to be formed in said copy material, and during a second 180 rotation, causes said material to be severed.

18. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus for a copying machine utilizing sensitized, continuous copy material, which in contact with an original to be copied, is fed between infeed rollers into said copying machine for processing, said roll feeding and cutting apparatus comprising:

a roll supply of sensitized copy material, first feed means for dispensing material from said roll over a copy path toward said infeed rollers,

cutting means in the path of said sensitized material, second feed means adjacent and downstream of said cutting means for transporting the leading end of said copy material along said copy path,

original feed means for conveying an Original over an original feed path toward said infeed rollers,

first sensing means activated by the leading edge of said original upon the insertion thereof into said original feed path and deactivated by the trailing edge thereof,

second sensing means positioned along said copy path downstream of said second feed means for detecting the leading edge of said copy material;

third sensing means positioned along said original feed path, a predetermined distance downstream of said first sensing means, for detecting the leading edge of said original, and control means operated in response to the actuation of said first sensing means by the leading edge of said original to operate said first feed means, thereby to dispense copy material from said roll, said control means operable subsequently in response to the detection by said second sensing means of the leading edge of said copy material, to disable said second feed means, thereby to detain the leading end of said copy material thereat while said first feed means continues to dispense said copy material from said roll, said copy material thereby being formed into a slack loop between said cutting means and said second feed means, said control means being operable to reinitiate the operation of said second feed means upon said third sensing means detecting the leading edge of said copy material a predetermined time thereafter, thereby to move the leading end of said copy material along said path toward said infeed rollers in synchronism with said original document moving along said original path and said control means being further operated in response to the detection of the trailing edge of said original by said first sensing means to discontinue the operation of said first feed means and to activate said cutting means for severing said copy material.

19. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said second sensing means and said third sensing means are positioned along said original and copy paths, respectively, at locations a predetermined distance along a respective path from said infeed rollers, thereby to maintain the leading edges of said original and copy material in registration as the latter are fed into said infeed rollers.

20. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 18 further including copy material loop forming means engageable with said copy material to form a slack loop therein in response to the detection of said leading edge of said copy material by said second sensing means.

21. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said loop forming means includes an elongated rod member and means for mounting said rod member, said mounting means being rotatable in a first direction for moving said rod member into engagement with said copy material thereby to form said slack loop and to be rotatable in the opposite direction for disengaging said rod member from said copy material.

22. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said cutting means comprises a cutting assembly mounted for rotation about its axis between cutting and non-cutting positions, and further including drive means for operating said loop forming means and said cutting assembly, said drive means including a rotatable shaft and arm means interconnecting said shaft and said mounting means for said loop forming rod member and said rotatable cutting assembly, respectively, and clutch means connected to said shaft for controlling the rotation of the latter, said clutch means being operable in response to the detection of the leading edge of said copy material by said second sensing means to rotate said shaft in a first direction, thereby to move said rod member into a loop forming position and operable in response to the detection of the trailing edge of said original document by said first sensing means to rotate said shaft an additional 180 in said first direction, to move said cutting assembly from a non-cutting to a cutting position and to return said loop forming rod member to its original position.

23. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 18 further including a drive motor for said copy material feed means and said original feed means, whereby the speeds at which said copy material and said original document are fed along their respective paths by said first and second feed means and said original feed means, respectively, are substantially equal.

24. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said roll supply of copy material includes first and second rolls of copy material, the second roll being of a greater width than the first roll; a fourth sensing means positioned along said original feed path, and spaced laterally from said first sensing means for detecting an original document of a width greater than a predetermined width; and means operated in response to the detection of said original by said fourth sensing means to cause copy material from said second roll to be fed along said copy path upon engagement of said first sensing means by said original document.

25. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus for a copying machine using continuous copy material which in contact with an original to be copied, is fed toward an infeed station into said copying machine for processing, said apparatus comprising: a roll supply of copy material; means for dispensing copy material from said roll supply along a copy path towards said infeed station; original feed means for feeding an original document along an original feed path towards said infeed station; original sening means positioned along said original feed path responsive to the detection of the leading edge of said original document to operate said dispensing means; cutting means positioned along said copy path; means for stopping the leading end of said copy material downstream of said cutting device while said dispensing means continues to dispense copy material from said roll, thereby to form a slack loop in said copy material downstream of said cutting device; and means for restarting the feeding of the leading end of said copy material in response to the original document passing a predetermined point in said original path downstream of said original sensing means, said dispensing means stopping the feeding of material from said roll and said cutting means being operated to sever a length of copy material from said roll, upon the trailing edge of said original document passing said original sensing means.

26. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said means for stopping the leading end of said copy material along said copy path comprises copy material feed means and sensing means positioned along said copy path downstream of said cutting device, said sensing means disabling the feed means to stop the leading end of said copy material upon sensing the latter as it passes along said copy path, and wherein said means for restarting the feeding of the leading end of said copy material includes second original sensing means for enabling said last-mentioned feed means to transport the leading end of said copy material toward said infeed station upon detecting the said original document moving along said original feed path.

27. Roll feeding and cutting apparatus using a web feed supply copy material for making reproductions of a precut original by contact printing comprising:

an infeed station to receive said original and copy material,

original feed means for conveying an original document along an original feed path toward said infeed station,

a first sensing means for sensing the lead and trail edge of the original along the original path,

roll supply feed means operable between a feed and stop condition responsive to said first sensing means,

cutting means disposed along said copy path in advance of said infeed station for cutting said copy material responsive to the trailing edge of the original clearing said first sensing means,

second feed means adjacent said cutting means operable between a feed and stop condition being disposed in said copy path,

second sensing means positioned downstream of said second feed means for sensing the presence of said copy material,

web diverting means for guiding the web away from said copy path said web diverting means being activated and said second feed means operated to a stop condition in response to said second sensing means sensing the presence of the copy material while said roll feed is operated to the feed condition responsive to the said first sensing of said lead edge of the original, operating the second feed means to a feed condition and activating the cutter responsive to the trailing edge of'the original clearing said 'first sensor while operating the roll feed means to its stop condition, whereby a slack condition is introduced in the copy material Web before it is severed from the roll.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,452,627 7/1969 Goodman et a1. 83-205 X 3,418,047 12/1968 Lee et a1. 355--28 3,503,677 3/1970 Uchiyama 355-13 3,436,997 4/1969 Abraham et a1. 83-205 SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, Primary Examiner R. L. MOSES, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

